After the first HOLIDAY HOME SHOW, I could tell that a lot of people liked the Christmas trees with pierced holes for candles or fairy lights. So, that’s what I’m making more of… and today was the day to trim & drill holes!!!

Less than two weeks until the second HOLIDAY HOME SHOW… and I’m just trying to replenish some of the basics! Another batch of spoon rests… done, drying & ready for the first firing!

With my second HOLIDAY HOME SHOW just two weeks away… I’m pretty sure I can crank out another batch of Christmas Trees! They were a big hit at the first show, so my inventory is very low! But give me some time… and I’ll have a whole new forest of Christmas Trees WITH STARS!!!… as they seemed to be a big hit! So if you missed them the first time, never fear… there will be more for the second show on December 16th & 17th at my place. Mark your calendars!

On a damp & rainy night here in Chicago, looks like Emma has settled in for a yummy night of soup! Remember, food always tastes better in handmade pottery! Thanks Emma!

Hard to believe, but it’s time to pull out your advent calendars and taking care of Day One! My Grandma Kitty made these calendars for all of her grandkids. Such a great heirloom bringing great memories for the upcoming holiday season!

For Kristen’s “First Dibs” Pottery Sale & Open House last night, she sent out electronic invitations… and reminders. But then she tempted me… err, I mean taunted me… with this photo. Yummy brownies on one of my platters!!! So… I had to go now, right?! It would have “rude” not to!!! HA!!!

So last night my longtime friend & pottery student Kristen had a little “First Dibs” party before launching her pottery website today! As a former metalsmith, it’s been fun watching her work in clay instead of metal. And seeing her skills & designs grow & evolve so quickly. You can tell she’s been listening to my lessons… especially my “More Is More” mantra! Congrats Kristen… so proud of you!!!

I came home with this little brown cup. Which was actually a class demo… that I offered for someone else to finish. Kristen was the first to claim it… and look what she did to my “plain” demo cylinder!!!

What to do when the holiday leftovers are lingering a little too long?…
Well, make cranberry ice cream obviously!!!

That looks amazing Matthew… thanks for sharing!

After cleaning out my garden (in the wet & drippy snow)… my cousin Kim stopped over and we spent the day planting HUNDREDS of Spring bulbs!!! It was a whole lot of work to have my garden look pretty much the same… digging holes, dropping bulbs, filling them back in & covering it all with leaves?! But come next Spring… fingers crossed… we should see a huge floral explosion of color!!! Thanks so much Kim!

Sure, we had a long string of beautiful Fall days… but I “had to wait” until it snowed today to tackle cleaning out my front garden. Cutting, cleaning & creating several “trash can floral arrangements” along the way. Would have been a lot warmer & drier if I had done it sooner!!! Maybe next year???